Trump to address nation, visit border

In first Oval Office speech, US Prez to argue that immigration ‘crisis’ requires long-promised wall

WASHINGTON With no breakthrough in sight, President Donald Trump will argue his case to the nation Tuesday night that a “crisis” at the US-Mexico border requires the long and invulnerable wall he’s demanding before ending the partial government shutdown.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers face missed paychecks on Friday as the shutdown drags through a third week. Trump’s Oval Office speech — his first as president — will be followed by his visit on Thursday to the southern border to highlight his demand for a barrier.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted that he will use the visit to “meet with those on the front lines of the national security and humanitarian crisis”.

The administration is also at least talking about the idea of declaring national emergency to allow Trump to move forward on the wall without Congress approving the $5.6 bn he wants. Vice-President Mike Pence said the White House counsel’s office is looking at the idea. Such a move would certainly draw legal challenges, and Trump — who told lawmakers he would be willing to keep the government closed for months or ever years —has said he would like to continue negotiations for now.

‘Don’t divert funds for wall’

As Trump’s TV address and border visit were announced, newly empowered House Democrats — and at least a few Republican senators — stepped up pressure on GOP lawmakers to reopen the government without giving in to the president’s demands.

A Congressional delegation of Democrats touring a Border Patrol facility in New Mexico on Monday warned Trump against circumventing Congress to divert already appropriated money towards building the wall. “He can expect a strong and swift challenge from all of us and from the American people,” said US Representative Joaquin Castro.

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